Saturday, January 28, 2012

Celebrations, Presentations and Relaxation

Something happened to my post it seems so I'm reposting as I link up to The Tablescaper to celebrate Seasonal Sunday.  
 It was a wonderful week. It began with a celebration of my husband's 60th birthday.  He was born in the Year of the Dragon so he is convinced that the Chinese New Year Celebrations are part of his birthday celebrations. 

At work we enjoyed a special presentation and visit with Ken and Kathleen Powell.  Ken is a WWII POW and Kathleen is a Rosie the Riveter. 
Ken is holding the egg beaters he made while held as a prisoner using scrap metal. 
 Both Ken and Kathleen have amazing stories to tell and both are in their 90s so I was especially honored that they came to spend time with my workplace.   The egg beater Ken is holding is being fought over by two museums.  The detail of his handiwork is amazing but as he shared with the audience, "we had plenty of time on our hands."
If you are interested in learning more, you might be interested in the book that was written about Ken and his brothers,   Four Stars in the Window.
Tells the dramatic story of four brothers in one family during WWII who survived an Iwo Jima battle, a German POW camp, Omaha Beach on D-Day, and Army Air Corps cadet training.
I ended the week with a visit to a bed and breakfast that happens to be just around the corner from my house. 
 And so I enjoyed an afternoon tea with a dear friend in a lovely setting with a delightful hostess.
I hope you are enjoying the pleasures of the season.

18 comments:

  1. Celebrations indeed! Thanks for sharing your exciting week!

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  2. You have had a fun week! Congratulations to your husband on his 60th birthday, and we all have high hopes for the Year of the Dragon. I think it's so special that Mr. Powell and his wife spoke at your workplace this week. We owe so much to them and others like them. It's wonderful when people honor him by asking to hear about his experiences.

    Visiting from Seasonal Sundays. Have a great weekend!

    Denise

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  3. Happy bday to your dh! Good health!
    I bet that speaker was very interesting. I am wondering if he was a cook to make an egg beater?

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    1. Kathleen, Ken was a fighter pilot but you wouldn't believe the items he and the fellow prisoners made while in captivity, including Christmas ornaments!

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  4. I'm amazed about the egg beaters. It's impressive enough that he could figure out to make them but that he was able to find scrap metal and a piece of wood in one of those horrible camps is simply astounding.

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  5. Ken and his egg beaters are truly amazing. Happy Birthday to your husband.

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  6. I remember your telling us about them before...amazing! That egg beater is incredible! Happy birthday to your hubby! That b&b looks very frenchy...will have to check it out! Happy Sunday, Cheryl!...hugs...Debbie

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  7. Happy Birthday to your husband! He and I are both Dragons, although I will have to wait a bit for my big celebration.
    This week I attended the funeral of a D-Day veteran - the passing of that generation is not, I think, a good thing for our countries. In some ways those men and women were our moral compass.
    I'd like to have joined you for tea - it looks delicious!

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  8. Cheryl, happy birthday to that Dragon! 2012 should be a year of good fortune. Your husband was lucky to be born a Water Dragon. ;-) Thanks for sharing Ken's story and telling us about the book. ~ Sarah

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  9. Congratulations to your husband on his 60th birthday! I hope the Year is good for all of us! The afternoon tea at the B & B with your dear friend is to be treasured.

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  10. Sounds like a great week - hubby's bd, great speaker and to end it all in a little B&B. Thanks for sharing with Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  11. Jojo - you had a great weekend. How interesting about the soldier from WW2. And happy birthday to your husband. And I can imagine that beautiful tea house near your lovely home. sandie

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  12. What a full week you had - full of good things. I hope this next week is equally good for you and your now-60 year old husband.

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  13. Your husband is a powerful Black Water Dragon! This is not just the year of the dragon, but the year of the Black Water Dragon, the first since the year your husband was born.My goodness, Jojo, hold onto your hat...this year will be awesome!

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  14. Happy 60th to your lovely husband....the book looks very interesting. The Boss is a big World War 2 follower...his Mom's first husband was killed on Omaha beach on
    D-Day...I will have to look for the book for him, I'm sure he would love to read it....Hope your week is going well....

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  15. Happy Birthday to your husband, sounds like it's going to be a great one! That book looks so interesting, thanks for sharing. What a sweet place to have tea, you certainly did have a winner of a week!

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